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Hundreds of Akron students expected to join national walkout

Each student participating in the event will be given a ticket, which is acting similar to a hall pass to return to class.

Thousands of students nationwide are planning a walkout Wednesday morning in a protest and memorial to honor the 17 people killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last month. Hundreds locally will be joining the national movement, including more than 300 hundred at Firestone High School.

“The physical act of walking out shows that were serious enough to walk out of school, to bring attention to the issue,” said sophomore Megan May, co-organizer of the Student Coalition Against Violence. “

There’s been discussion over how school are choosing to handle the walkouts, but at Firestone High School it came down to communication and transparency.

“It would have been easy for us to say, so you’re not going to be suspended,” said Principal Larry Johnson Jr. “The difficult part to civil disobedience is 'what are you willing to give up?'”

Johnson Jr. notes the unique nature of the event as students voice their concerns over school safety, while administrators also focus on ways to keep students safe during the walkout.

“As students were doing this plan, the first thing that we’re thinking about as a team is how do we ensure their safety,” said Johnson Jr.

The plan was introduced and discussed with administrators in several meetings over the course of about two weeks.

The walkout would beginning at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes in memory of the 17 victims that were killed in the Florida school shooting. Students will hold up signs as speakers address the crowd and poems are read to raise awareness to school safety.

“This is about safety,” said May. “So if we do this, and we’re not safe, there’s no point.”

That was one of Johnson Jr.’s main concerns that had to be addressed before moving forward with the walkout plans.

“We have administrators and security guards set up to support the dismissal and return of students,” Johnson Jr. said. “Once the allotted time, we expect students to return to their classrooms.

Each student participating in the event will be given a ticket, which is acting similar to a hall pass to return to class.

Student organizers May annd Molly Bregar said the walkout is just the beginning of their plans to make a change within the school district when it comes to increasing school safety. They will be taking their concerns to the school board requesting metal detectors in school, a statement from the board against the support of arming teachers, and increased safety training for students and staff.

Johnson Jr. said he appreciates and respects the students “comprehensive plan” to raise awareness to school safety issues. He calls it a history lesson – coming to life.

“This is the best kind of learning, a hands-on experience to ‘what does it mean to have an idea and voice it?”

Firestone High School is one of several local schools listed as participating in the ENOUGH National School Walkout, organized by Women’s March Youth Empower.

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